Manchester United vs Arsenal: Basic tactics from David Moyes out do Wenger's army

Arsene Wenger

Arsenal vs Manchester United which in recent years has lacked the intensity and tenacity normally persistent with such a game finally lived up to its expectations. The atmosphere at Old Trafford was buzzing, we witnessed end to end football and interesting physical conflicts none of which got out of hand though. United got their basics right and so did David Moyes.

1)Overloading the flanks

United known historically for their reliance on wide men and overlapping full backs brought on an interesting twist. Rooney and Robin Van Persie both known for their dangerously whipping crossing trajectories were constantly drifting towards either flank dragging a midfielder or a centre back out of position to assist Valencia and Smalling on one side and Kagawa on Evra on the other. Shinji Kagawa’s ability to influence play through the centre must have also influenced the decision to play this way.

2)Defending shape

Reminiscent of Alex Ferguson’s tactics against Real Madrid last year, Manchester United stuck to a clear defensive shape, every player including Rooney and Van Persie getting behind the ball. Spaces through the centre were squeezed out resulting in Arsenal to pass around the centre and find penetration through the flanks. Ramsey and Ozil were thus effectively neutralized. United’s players tracked every trailing run by an Arsenal man engulfing their chances to cut through via one-two’s. Arsenal clearly missing long distance shooters failed to test De Gea enough. The second half saw United lose their shape only when they lost possession cheaply or when they lost 50-50 challengers. Barring that, United were resolute in their defending.

3)Phil Jones getting the nod ahead of Fellaini

With Fellaini having an impressive game in Spain until the sending off, many expected him to start. David Moyes’s insistence on playing Jones as a holding midfielder worked wonders with the energetic English man putting in a solid shift of a box-to-box display in the first half and decent show at centre-half, throwing himself and every possible block and adding some steel to the midfield and at the back allowing Carrick to try and dictate the play from a deeper position early on. His partnership with Evans later in the game was inspiring.

4)Man marking Giroud out of the game

Vidic and Evans clearly got stuck in and allowed Giroud absolutely no space to provide an option for Arsenal’s transitional play. Giroud has been Arsenal’s release man this season providing 1.8 key passes per game and 5 assists already. United plugged him out of the game. Jones and Evans later on carried on Vidic’s impressive marking.

Sometimes its just the basics that do the trick. Arsenal were forced to switch to a crossing game, something that they were not extremely comfortable with. With Sagna as the only effective crosser in the team with midfielders too tiny to win headers, their options were limited.

Well played, Moysey, well played.